Skype has announced that it is investigating a new tool which can be used to collect users' IP addresses. The hack, which can provide the IP address of a targeted Skype user without even having to add them as a contact, has been circulating online since last Thursday.

Computer World reports that the trick—which can expose a person's last known IP address just through analyzing their general information—was posted on Pastebin last week. Since, Skype has been trying to get to the bottom of it. In an email statement, Skype explains:

"...this is an ongoing, industry-wide issue faced by all peer-to-peer software companies. We are committed to the safety and security of our customers and we are taking measures to help protect them."

Skype uses a peer-to-peer system to route its data traffic, but its encryption system is proprietary. To date, the techniques it uses to encrypt data have not come under scrutiny. [Computer World]